The deadline for entries for the National Cupcake Championships is this Friday (15 August).

The National Cupcake Championships, run alongside National Cupcake Week (15 to 21 September) and organised by British Baker, aim to find the best cupcakes around.

Last year’s amateur winner Shalini Sriskandarasa told Georgey Spanswick, filling in for Mark Forrest on BBC Radio Cornwall, encouraged all bakers to enter for the recognition they would receive.

“There is one week to go until the deadline and I would definitely recommend entering,” she said. Sriskandarasa started her own cake business, Lovely Cakes by Shalini, off the back of winning the competition last year.

There are four categories to enter: Classic: Themed: Made with Alcohol; and Free-from with professional and home bakers eligible for entry in separate competitions.

The finalists will be chosen by a panel of esteemed judges including Sriskandarasa, 2012 winner Emily Johnson of Upsy Daisy Bakery and Tea Room in Hammersmith, west London and bakery expert Chris Bachmann of Bachmann’s Patisserie in Hampton’s Court, west London.

Representatives from our partners Wellbeing of Women and Cake International, sponsor Barry Callebaut and British Baker will also be on hand to pick our eight finalists.

Another round of judging will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 8 November to find our two overall champions for 2014.

Visit www.nationalcupcakeweek.co.uk for entry info and follow us at @CupcakeWeek - you only have until Friday 15 August to get your entry in.